Anime You Should See Before You Die: Kurosawa Edition - Samurai 7

Anime You Should See Before You Die returns today with an Akira Kurosawa inspired anime recommendation. Released in 2004, Gonzo’s Samurai 7 is a loose retelling of Kurosawa’s classic Seven Samurai, complete with swords, lords, and…mecha? Yes, this isn’t your dad’s 1954 Seven Samurai. Taking a more steampunk direction, Samurai 7 features everything from flying castles/airships, to steam-powered doodads, to the afore mentioned giant mecha. But the big question of course is, is the series any good?

For the most part, yes it is. While Seven Samurai devotees will cry foul for the sudden sci-fi shift, Samurai 7 is still worth a watch with a interesting cast of characters, great animation (with a reported budget of $300,000 per episode), and an excellent soundtrack. Fans of the film will find many similarities to the anime - a small village is being bullied by a group of bandits, who are stealing rice as well as kidnapping women and children. To combat the thieves, the villagers travel to recruit 7 samurai, in hopes that they will be able to defend the village. From there, the anime branches out, adding additional characters and scenes while staying fairly close to the the overall story.

At the end of the day, Samurai 7 must be judged on its own merits. Is it a deep and philosophical look at society? No. Is it throughly entertaining? Yes. For those looking for an excellent anime full of action, great characters, a memorable soundtrack, and a enjoyable story, look no further. Samurai 7 is here.